2025 recap: Autocar India specials

2025 has been a wonderful year not only for the Indian automotive space but also for us at Autocar India. This year, we had the opportunity to be part of the record books again, while also experiencing a 50,000cc monster truck, as well as organising a 300kph NATRAX run with 12 supercars. Here’s a list of 5 things that stood out for us in 2025:

Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV marked itself in the Guinness World Record Book

It set a Guinness World record with a temperature variation of 51.2°C

The Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV is the German manufacturer’s flagship e-SUV, initially launched in September 2024 as the SUV version of the EQS saloon. While we had already set a Guinness World Record Title with the sedan in 2024, in 2025, we bagged the ‘Greatest Temperature Change achieved by an Electric Production Car’ title with the EQS SUV.

The record run was conducted from Ranao in Rajasthan to Khardung La in Ladakh, which saw temperatures ranging from a scorching 47.5°C to a spine-chilling -3.7°C. This marked a temperature variation of 51.2°C in a single journey, which helped the EQS SUV 450 4Matic to achieve the Guinness World Record Title.  

Ultraviolette F99 becomes the fastest Indian motorcycle (EV)

With a speed of 258kph, the F99 enlisted itself in the India Book of Records

Revealed in 2024, Ultraviolette claimed the F99 to be India’s first electric superbike with a quarter-mile sprint of 10.712 seconds. To test the claim, we put the electric motorcycle through its paces at the National Automotive Test Tracks (NATRAX) in February 2025, where we achieved a V-box indicated maximum of 258kph. This resulted in the F99 clinching an India Book of Records for the title of the ‘Fastest Speed Achieved by an Indian Motorcycle (EV).’  

Notably, the F99 is a special project by Ultraviolette that packs in an ultra-light 400V battery pack mated with a 122hp electric motor that delivers 72Nm torque to the rear wheel. This electric powertrain, along with a carbon fibre exoskeleton and a kerb weight of a mere 180kg, helps it clock a 0-100kph run in 3.03 seconds before reaching 200kph in 9.7 seconds.  

Lamborghini Revuelto rips through the Navi Mumbai airstrip

We break into the runway’s smooth tarmac before the aeroplanes take over it

Commercial operations of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) commenced in December 2025, but back in May 2025, we broke in on its 3.7km-long airstrip with the flagship Lamborghini Revuelto. Lamborghini has always been inspired by fighter jets, and being the fastest car in India, the Revuelto was our prime choice for ripping through the runway. Notably, the Revuelto is powered by a 6.5-litre V12 engine mated with a plug-in hybrid tech, which helps it produce a whopping 1,015hp.  

During our time with it, the hypercar hit a speedometer-indicated 355kph in just 2km when the soft limiter kicks in. If we account for a speedometer error, this indicates a top speed of 350kph. This marked the first high-speed run on the expanse of tarmac before the aeroplanes took over to offer what could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In the words of Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor at Autocar India, "the runway is so perfectly surfaced, so wide, so devoid of distractions that the Revuelto feels eerily at home."

Behind the wheel of a 50,000cc quad-turbo V16 mine truck

One of the most powerful sets of wheels we drove in 2025

Beyond the world of cars and motorcycles, we also tried our hands on a 50,000cc monster truck that has a kerb weight of 3,22,000kg (or 322 tonnes). Called the Tata Hitachi EH 3500, the mammoth mining truck features a Cummins QSKTA50-CE 50.3-litre quad-turbo V16 hybrid diesel engine that produces a whopping 2,000hp and 7,871Nm, with the entire engine block weighing well over 5 tonnes. Unlike what we see in a regular diesel car, the tipper’s diesel engine runs an electric generator that further powers two electric motors mounted on each side of the rear axle, which eliminates the need for a gearbox, propeller shaft or oversized differential.  

Speaking of the mammoth dimensions, the tyres themselves are 10 feet tall, which is the height of an average house ceiling, and the entire truck could be as tall as a three-storey building. The four turbos are the size of a regular coffee table each, while the radiator is 12 feet tall. Priced roughly around Rs 20 crore, the Tata Hitachi EH 3500 is definitely one of the most unique sets of wheels we drove this year.

12 supercars breach the 300kph mark at the NATRAX oval

We conducted the first 300kph club run with a bunch of supercars on the high-speed track

Crossing the 300kph mark is one of the most elusive dreams for a petrolhead, especially in India. It was, however, made a reality in July 2025, when some enthusiasts attacked the NATRAX oval with a curated list of a dozen supercars in association with Autocar India and Castrol EDGE, breaching 300kph. 

Amongst the list of Ferrari SF90, McLaren 750S, and the Mercedes-AMG GT, the Ferrari 296 GTS clocked a speed of 338.9kph, which was the most for the day. Dinesh Thakakr, who owns only one of two Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series in India, commented, “When we buy the car, we hear that it can max out at 325kph, but actually doing it is incredibly exciting.” Dr Sriram Nene, owner of the McLaren 750S, says, “On most circuits, you’re only going to hit 280 or 290kph on the back straight, but this is like a one-off opportunity to go beyond that.”

Prices are ex-showroom, India

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